Armoured vehicle

ABSTRACT

An armoured vehicle or vessel has a device for launching guided projectiles, such as rockets, with the aid of a training apparatus. A launching tube and the training apparatus are positioned in the interior and under the armour of the vehicle or vessel during normal transport. The holding means for the launching tube is pivotably attached to a supporting means provided under the top of the armour which is provided with an opening that can be shut off.

United States Patent Kuiper Apr. 2, 1974 [54] ARMOURED VEHICLE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS lflvento" Christiaa" l" Eindhoven 22,502 9/1917 Denmark 89/38 Netherlands I 40 1915 Great Britain .4 Assigneez van noorne,s Aanhangwagenfabriek 577,784 5/1946 Great Bntam .0 89/375 D N.V. E' dh N th 1 d m oven 6 er an 8 Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley [22] Filedi J 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [21] Appl. No.: 265,176

[57] ABSTRACT 52 us. CI. 89/40 B 89/1.802 89/l.8l5 amwred vehicle vessel has dcvicc for 1 3 launching guided projectiles, such as rockets, with the [5]] Int Cl F41f3/o4, F4" 23/02 23/08 aid of a training apparatus. A launching tube and the [58] Field of Search 89/1815 5 H 36 K training apparatus are positioned in the interior and 89/36 L 375 b 40 under the armour of the vehicle or vessel during nor ma] transport. The holding means for the launching [56] References Cited tube is pivotably attached to a supporting means provided under the top of the armour which is provided UNITED STATES PATENTS with an opening that can be shut off. l ,324,800 12/1919 Dawson et al. 89/38 3,545,837 12/1970 Chapman 89/38 1 Claim, 6 DraWlng Figures SHEET 1 BF 5 PATENTEB APR 2 I974 PATENTEUAPR 2 I974 SHEET 2 OF 5 FIG-3 1111111111111 I 1111111 1 1111 11111 11 IILLU rifiUUooti PATENTEUAPR 2 1974 SHEET 5 [IF 5 FIG. 6

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an armoured vehicle or vessel comprising a device for launching a guided projectile with the aid of a training apparatus.

Previously known devices of this type include several detached parts, such as a frame, a holding means for the launching tube, a launching tube and a training apparatus. These parts are assembled by crews standing on the roof of the armoured vehicle or vessel.

A disadvantage of this procedure is that launching device and the crew as well are exposed during a period of time before the launching operation and after completing the action.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to improve such situation. Therefore, in the device according to the invention the holding means for the launching tube is pivotably connected with a support which is mounted under the top side of the armour which is provided with an opening that can be shut off.

In the device according to the invention the training apparatus can be connected with the holding means for the launching tube when such holding means is under the top of the armour.

In the device according to the invention the launching tube can be detachably mounted to such holding means. In order to facilitate the erection of the device according to the invention the holding means for the launching tube can be erected into the operative position by means of a lever which is pivotably connected with the supporting means and can be locked to the supporting means in the operative position.

In the device according to the invention in order to facilitate the erection operation of the lever with the supporting means the pivot can consist of a torsion bar which is mounted in such a way that when the lever is lowered the torsion bar is under tension.

In order to improve the protection of the crew in the device according to the invention the closing means on the top of the armour consists of semi-circular, armour plates which are hinged on the armour and areadapted to turn to the outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings an embodiment of an armoured vehicle according to the present invention is shown by way of example.

FIG. 1 shows an elevation of a part section of the vehicle, the device being stowed under the armour.

FIG. 2 shows a section of a portion of the vehicle, in which the opening on the top is closed.

FIG. 3 shows a section of a portion of the vehicle comprising the mounted training apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows a section of a portion of the vehicle comprising the mounted launching tube.

FIG. 5 shows a section of a portion of the vehicle with the device ready for action.

FIG. 6 shows the rear end of the vehicle with the device ready for action.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the figures the armoured vehicle is shown having endless tracks 2 which extend over supporting wheels 1, such wheels being driven in the usual way at 3. In the interior of the vehicle there are the detached training apparatus 4, projectiles (rockets) 5 and the launching tube 6. The holding means for the launching tube 6 is indicated with 7. Every item is under the closed cover 8. Cover 8 consists of two semi-circular parts 9 and 10 (FIG. 2-6) which are attached to the top of the armour 12 by means of hinges 11 in a pivotable ring 13.

The training apparatus 4 can be attached to the holding means at 14 by means of known ordnance couplings (FIGS. 3-6). As is shown in FIG. 4 thereupon the launching tube 6 can be positioned onto the holding means 7 also by means of known ordnance couplings.

The unit consisting of elements 4, 6 and 7 then can be positioned in its operation position (FIGS. 5 and 6) by pivoting the lever 15 onto which the holding means 7 is attached about its pivot 16. Pivot 16 comprises a torsion bar which is mounted in such a way that when lever 15 is lowered the torsion bar is under tension. The lever 15 is rotated to such an extent that the opening 18 is coaxial with the opening 19 in the supporting means 20. A pin not shown inserted in the two openings 18 and 19 fastens the whole device. The supporting means 20 is connected with the rotatable ring 13. During action the crew 21, 22 (FIG. 6) is standing on a raised platform 23.

It will be clear that a vessel also can be provided with a device according to the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an armoured vehicle or vessel having an internal crew chamber and a device for launching guided missiles, such as rockets, with the aid of a launching tube and a training apparatus and having a closable opening in the top side of said vehicle or vessel through which a holding means for said launching tube with its training apparatus can be moved to the outside or inside of said vehicle or vessel, the improvement comprising:

a ring mounted in said opening in said top side, said ring being rotatable over 360 in a substantially horizontal plane;

supporting means mounted within said crew chamber and attached to said ring for supporting said holding means;

a lever pivotally attached at a first end thereof to said supporting means about a horizontal axis; and

said holding means being rigidly attached to a second end of said lever;

whereby said lever, said holding means and said launching tube and training apparatus may selectively be pivoted about said axis to move said holding means and said launching tube and training apparatus inwardly and outwardly through said opening. 

1. In an armoured vehicle or vessel having an internal crew chamber and a device for launching guided missiles, such as rockets, with the aid of a launching tube and a training apparatus and having a closable opening in the top side of said vehicle or vessel through which a holding means for said launching tube with its training apparatus can be moved to the outside or inside of said vehicle or vessel, the improvement comprising: a ring mounted in said opening in said top side, said ring being rotatable over 360* in a substantially horizontal plane; supporting means mounted within said crew chamber and attached to said ring for supporting said holding means; a lever pivotally attached at a first end thereof to said supporting means about a horizontal axis; and said holding means being rigidly attached to a second end of said lever; whereby said lever, said holding means and said launching tube and training apparatus may selectively be pivoted about said axis to move said holding means and said launching tube and training apparatus inwardly and outwardly through said opening. 